LAKESIDE LIVING

 

Sandy Olson
Phone: 331-283-8529
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

February 2016

 

VIVA MUSICA PRESENTS 

There’s an exciting spring schedule for opera and symphony lovers.

THE OPERAS….

Here are the next “Live from the Met” productions at Teatro Diana.

Saturday February 6 Turandot by Puccini. This is one of the grand operas in the repertoire, with soprano Nina Stemme as the proud princess, and tenor Marco Berti as the prince calyph.

 


Swedish Soprano Nina Stemme

 

Saturday March 5 Manon Lescaut by Puccini-- a story of obsessive love, with sultry soprano Kristine Opolais and tenor Jonas Kaufman in the lead roles.

Saturday April 9 Madame Butterfly by Puccini, featuring outstanding soprano Kristine Opolais as Butterfly and Roberto Alagna as Pinkerton.

Met Opera bus tickets are $350 pesos, ($450 for non-members), available at the LCS Thursday and Friday from 10 to noon. All Viva buses depart from the carretera, just east of Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic.

NOW, ABOUT THE SYMPHONIES…

Sunday February 7 Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5 with American-Korean violin soloist Esther Yoo; Bruckner Symphony No. 7; conductor, Marco Parisotto. The bus leaves at 4 p.m. The concert is at 6 p.m.

Friday February 19 “La España de Cervantes”  Manuel de Falla, The Three-Cornered Hat, Joaquin Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjuez, Jose Maria Gallardo del Rey guitar solo.  Richard Strauss, Don Quixote with cello soloist William Molina Cestari; conductor, Marco Parisotto. This bus departs at 4 p.m. with a stop at a fine restaurant in Guadalajara.

Sunday February 28 Mahler Celeste” Beethoven, Prometheus Overture, Mahler Symphony No. 4 with Amber Wagner soprano soloist; conductor, Marco Parisotto. The bus leaves at 4 p.m. The concert is at 6 p.m.

Sunday March 6 Schumann & Schubert” – Great Melodic Craftsmen” Schumann Piano Concerto with piano soloist Claire Huangci; Schubert Symphony No.9; conductor, Marco Parisotto.  The bus leaves at 4 p.m. The concert is at 6 p.m.

Thursday March 10 “Haydn Plus – Cello Extravaganza” – Haydn, Paganini, Faure, Saint-Saens, Tchaikovsky; conductor Seikyo Kim. The bus departs at 4 p.m. with a stop at a fine restaurant in Guadalajara.

DON’T MISS THE OPEN STUDIO TOUR

The 2016 Ajijic Society of the Arts Open Studio Tour will take place February 6 and 7. This year’s event will feature 58 artist members of ASA who will be showing their work in 22 locations in Ajijic, San Antonio, and Riberas del Pilar. All of the artists will have items to sell and many will have work in progress.

This year, for the first time, there will be a shuttle service available to transport patrons to and from studios outside of the Ajijic Centro area. The ticket booklet for this event is 50 pesos per person, and lists the participating artists and a thumbnail picture of an example of their work.

The profits from these tickets help fund ASA’s continuing support of the LCS Children’s Art Program. Get them at the LCS ticket sales area, Diane Pearl Colecciones, Efren Gonzalez Gallery, Ken Gosh (El Gallo Gallery), and from the individual exhibitors at the door on the show dates.

OPEN CIRCLE

Sunday morning finds many Lakeside residents at the Lake Chapala Society and Open Circle, a forum on a variety of stimulating topics. A social hour with coffee and snacks at 10 a.m. is followed by an interesting lecture and discussion at 10:30 a.m. Here’s the program for the month.

 


Francisco Úrzua of Aztec Weaving Studios

 

February 7  Ensemble Contemporaneo

This popular ensemble, mostly from Guadalajara, has performed at Open Circle before.  This morning they’ll give us music of Astor Piazzolla, Joe Hisahishi, Karl Jenkins, and some danzons. 

Instrumentalists are Alberto de Loza II, violin, Gio Real, violin, Moises Real, viola, Michel Vega, bassoon, and Giovanni Cappelletti, percussion.

February 14 What is This Thing Called Love?

Presented by James Tipton For more than a decade, popular local poet James Tipton has been entertaining Open Circle audiences with his presentations of poetry and prose about love. Appropriately, once again on Valentine’s Day he will be our featured speaker, talking about this favorite topic.

February 21 Considering Suicide

Presented by David Krest. He is a physician-- according to the ancient Greek definition of  “one who heals or exerts a healing influence.” He grew up in the mountains of Colorado, studied Oriental medicine at the Kushi Institute, and practiced holistic medicine at his clinic in Denver.

February 28  Still Midnight in Mexico?

Presented by Alfredo Corchado He and journalist Angela Kocherga will discuss the state of Mexico today—its journalism, challenges, borderlands, and the new American narrative.

As Mexico Bureau Chief, Alfredo covers U.S. policy in Latin America, specializing in Mexico. He is a leading reporter on immigration and national security issues, particularly the drug-related violence that threatens Mexico’s national security and border communities. 

March 6 The Birth of an Idea

Presented by Janice Kimball

This talk explores how the creative mind works, where ideas come from and how to jump start the creative process.  She is a visual artist, weaver, author, and retired college instructor who loves to share her diverse knowledge and experience with others. She invites you to join her for a reception following Open Circle, venue to be announced. Her website is www.janicekimball.com.

GROW YOUR OWN…..

……..vegetables, that is. The Ajijic Organic Vegetable Growers meet on the second  Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. in the gazebo at Tabarka Restaurant, Rio Zula #7. The next meeting will be on February 10. There is always a plant exchange and a “show and tell” of what’s going on with each person’s garden.

New members are welcome. They can contact John McWilliams at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 376.766.0620. There are two websites that gardeners will find very informative: growingyourgreens.com and smilinggardener.com/introductions/why-grow-a-garden.

A CHANCE TO OPEN YOUR HEART

A most worthy charity at Lakeside is Operation Feed, which is located in San Juan Cósala and has served the needs of 92 families for 27 years. It is run by outstanding volunteers and every penny raised goes to purchase the large bags of beans, rice, soy, lentils and other goods that feed these families.

A good way to support this fine group is to buy a ticket and attend their  “Open Your Heart for Operation Feed” event at Viva Mexico in San Juan Cosala, which is owned by Agustine Vasquez, a strong supporter of Operation Feed.

The group’s advisory board president is Carol Curtis. Fundraising chairperson of this art and jewelry auction event is Weezie Burgess. Other volunteers are Janine Kirkland, Jere Fvolent, Lory Phill, Bernie St. Louis and Melody Peterson.   

 


Dedicated Volunteers Jerelyn Fyvolent and Janine Kirkland

 

Viva Mexico is at Porfirio Diaz #92 in San Juan Cosala.  The date is February 12. A cocktail hour starts at 5 p.m. and the art auction will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are 250 pesos and include a drink and a choice of one out of four entrees.  Get tickets at Mia’s boutique or Diane Pearl Colecciones or by e-mailing Janine Kirkland at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling her at 376.766.6044.

PLAYS! OPERA! BALLET!

After a fine start last season through its collaboration with London’s National Theatre Live, Lakeside Little Theatre has broadened its Playhouse Series to be a key offering throughout the year.  Also, an agreement with London’s Royal Opera House will enable the theatre to present several operas and ballets.

For 2015-16, the Playhouse Series encompasses six National Theatre Live plays, along with four operas produced by Royal Opera House and two ballets produced by The Royal Ballet.  All of these are actual performances recorded in stunning high definition before live audiences and shown on LLT’s new 14 x 8 foot screen.  Here are scheduled performances in January through March.

Le Nozze di Figaro opera by Mozart, February 13-14. Regarded as a cornerstone of the standard operatic repertoire, it appears among the top ten at the Operabase list of the most-performed operas worldwide.

Romeo & Juliet ballet, created by Kenneth MacMillan, March 5-6.  It’s a groundbreaking ballet, the tragic tale of star-crossed lovers and is widely regarded as a 20th century classic.

Performances are Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.

Tickets (200 pesos) for the upcoming two shows can be purchased at the LLT box office every Wednesday and Thursday from 10 until noon, as well as during the run of any LLT Mainstage show.

GUITARS IN THE PLAZA

What a nice weekend event--a guitar festival in the Ajjijic Plaza. The two day event is on February 12 and 13 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are shopping opportunities too: jewelry, art goods, ad workshop demonstrations during the day. Don’t miss it.

 

 

BOTULISM FUNDRAISERS CAN BE FUN

And Director Barbara Clippinger is going to prove it with this Lakeside Little Theatre production of Nunsense,  a fun filled show staged by the survivors at the Little Sisters of Hoboken Nunnery, 52 of the sisterhood having succumbed to botulism after eating vichyssoise. The remaining nuns parade their talents at a variety show staged to raise funds so that the last four of the dearly departed can be buried.

 


The cast, left to right: Heather Hunter, Wendy Petersen, Amaranta Santos, Judy Hendrick, Amy Friend, Peggy Lord Chilton, Lila Wells, Allyson De Jong. Missing: Cindy Paul.

 

The show runs February 19 to March 1.  LLT Box Office hours are every Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 to noon, and every day for the run of any Mainstage or Playhouse show (except Sunday, and one hour before curtain time. Tickets also available anytime by email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.);) or via message at the LLT Box Office (376 766 0954).

PINTO’S  PAELLA PAN

Chef Tony Pinto will once again stir up a classic seafood paella as part of a multi-course dinner for Cruz Roja’s “Paella on the Terraza” fundraising event on Saturday, February 20, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Enjoy the evening on the beautiful tented terraces of the Hotel Montecarlo.  After dessert, DJ Howard will switch from dinner to dancing music.  Both wine and cocktail no host bars will be open all evening.

 


Dr. Tony Pinto

 

Tickets are 300 pesos if purchased by February 17 and available at the Cruz Roja table at LCS, from Charlie Klestadt and his Cruz Roja sales team, or at Diane Pearl Colecciones.  The price goes up to 400 pesos for tickets purchased February 18-20, so buy yours early.

For further information or to reserve tables for 6-8 guests, contact Margy Kassier at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 766-4337.  Seating is limited to 150 guests and last year’s event sold out.

SEE BEHIND THE WALLS…

Now see beautiful homes on Behind the Walls Home Tours to benefit children at the School for Special Children in Jocotopec.  The next tours are February 25, March 24 and April 14. 

Tickets are 200 pesos. Tickets are available at Diane Pearl Colecciones or at Charter Club Tours at the Plaza Montana.  If not sold out, tickets will be available at the Pier.  Tours leave at 10:30 a.m.  For more information call Jessie Wynant at 766-1438, Kathy Baker at 766-0420, or  Leslie Martin at 766-2274.

A BODY OF WATER

The Naked Stage February show is A Body of Water, about a couple who find themselves in the same bed one morning with no previous knowledge of who they are and how they got there (has that ever happened to you? See the show and find out how this one ends). It’s directed by Lynn Phelan.

 


The cast, from left to right: Tina Leonard, Ken Yakiwchuk, Debra Bowers

 

The show runs February 26-28. It will be at Rio Bravo #10 in the Plaza de la Ribera at 4:00 pm. There is no restaurant service but the bar will open at 3:00 p.m.

For more information and reservations, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. For those who use Facebook, look for their page, The Naked Stage, for breaking news and updates.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Sunday, March 6 will mark the beginning of the 38th annual world-wide celebration of the International Womens Day, bringing attention to women’s issues, health, freedom, rights and contributions to their communities across the globe.

The Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club will present a weeklong series of special events from March 6 to March 12, each celebrating a different aspect of women’s lives here in México and around the world. All these events will be open to the public. 

See more at http://chapalarotary.org/event/2016-international-women-s-week-celebration and check this column in March and the Guadalajara Reporter for updates.

 

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